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USB 3.1 PCIe for cMP info repository

S

stmp

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 17, 2012
51
0
Hi there,

Anyone else have info on USB 3.1 PCIe cards for classic Mac Pro models?

I've been checking regularly and have only found this Asus model for a single type C port (Nothing yet for any USB 3.1 type A port PCIe cards):

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/USB_31_TYPEC_CARD/

Definitely seems to require an Asus driver but I cannot tell if that's for basic functionality or if the driver is required merely to get the speed boost claimed on the Asus site.

Another unknown with this Asus offering is the power delivery for the type C port; as I understand it there is only 75W coming off the PCIe connection directly, which is 25W less than the USB 3.1 Power Delivery spec's requirement of 100W (http://www.usb.org/developers/powerdelivery/).

Lastly, it seems like the fabless company leading the way on USB 3.1 chipsets will again be ASMedia - more info here:

http://www.asmedia.com.tw/eng/e_show_products.php?item=155&cate_index=154

Love to learn more about this topic since USB 3.1 will be the best available I/O option for classic Mac Pros (since we know that Thunderbolt is impossible on cMP).

Many thanks in advance for any info here.
 
CaptainChunk

CaptainChunk

macrumors 68020
Apr 16, 2008
2,142
6
Phoenix, AZ
Anyone else have info on USB 3.1 PCIe cards for classic Mac Pro models?

I've been checking regularly and have only found this Asus model for a single type C port (Nothing yet for any USB 3.1 type A port PCIe cards):

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/USB_31_TYPEC_CARD/

Definitely seems to require an Asus driver but I cannot tell if that's for basic functionality or if the driver is required merely to get the speed boost claimed on the Asus site.
Click to expand...

I don't think anyone will know the complete answer to that until we know which chipset Apple is using for USB-C on the 12" MacBook. It would need Apple drivers to work.

Another unknown with this Asus offering is the power delivery for the type C port; as I understand it there is only 75W coming off the PCIe connection directly, which is 25W less than the USB 3.1 Power Delivery spec's requirement of 100W (http://www.usb.org/developers/powerdelivery/).
Click to expand...

It's hard to imagine that anyone would even saturate 75W of power using USB-C for peripherals only. The 100W power handling spec enables manufacturers to build notebooks that can pass power, in addition to I/O over the same port. I'm not sure there's a practical use for that outside of this.
 
S

stmp

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 17, 2012
51
0
Thanks for the reply @CaptainChunk, helpful stuff for sure.

One item regarding the retina Macbook Pro is that even though it's type C it's only USB 3.1 gen 1, which is just a marketing rebadge of USB 3.0, so that chipset may not give the desired info.

Cheers + thanks again
 
D

Dandu

macrumors regular
Jan 23, 2009
120
15
I have tested today to verify ('im the french blogger) : with 10.10.3, the card is recognized as a UBS 3.0 card, and works like a charm.

I have not a 3.1 enclosure to test (it was a sample, i have just the card today)
 
mikeboss

mikeboss

macrumors 68000
Aug 13, 2009
1,546
866
switzerland
I just received my ASUS USB 3.1 TYPE-A Card (controller chip on the card is an ASMedia ASM1142). it even works in OS X Mavericks 10.9.5 out of the box. it's recognized as a USB 3.0 hostadapter (2 PCIe lanes @ 5.0 GT/s). I don't have any USB 3.1 peripherals to check wether it works at speeds above the 3.0 standard...

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/USB_31_TYPEA_CARD/
 
666sheep

666sheep

macrumors 68040
Dec 7, 2009
3,686
292
Poland
Not much of a surprise ;) as it's confirmed already.

What is great about this card it's 2 lanes. Now you can RAID 2 USB SSDs and get 800MB/s on them.
 
D

DEMinSoCAL

macrumors 603
Sep 27, 2005
5,086
7,323
So there is a TYPE C card and a TYPE A card...why would someone buy one over the other? Which is best to choose?
 
fuchsdh

fuchsdh

macrumors 68020
Jun 19, 2014
2,028
1,831
dmylrea said:
So there is a TYPE C card and a TYPE A card...why would someone buy one over the other? Which is best to choose?
Click to expand...

Type C is future-proofing—they're next to no peripherals on the market that use a Type-C connector but like with the original iMac Apple's Macbook and other products will get the connectors before most other PCs and help drive the standard.

Type-A is the same large, fiddly "I thought I was plugging it in the right way but I flipped it, it didn't work, I flipped it again and now it does" port we've been using since 1998.

The biggest benefit of Type-C to me is that we get to ignore the horrible mini/micro USB3 connectors.
 
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handheldgames

handheldgames

macrumors 68000
Apr 4, 2009
1,943
1,170
Pacific NW, USA
mikeboss said:
UPDATE: for me, ASMedia based cards are not working reliable under Mavericks ->
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/21122547/
Click to expand...

Considering drivers for USB 3.1 were released in 10.10.3, earlier versions will have compatibility issues.

Have you attempted to bring the KEXT's from 10.10.3 back to 10.9.5? There have been mixed results in the past in doing this for some video cards.

(text added in bold as the supporting OS/Version was not mentioned earlier in the thread)
 
R

rjtiedeman

macrumors 6502
Nov 29, 2010
337
66
Stamford, CT
Buy USB 3.0 PCI adapter or wait for USB 3.1

Any one know when the new USB 3.1 devices will show up? Will 2010 / 5,1 Mac Pro benefit from the increased speed?
 
SDAVE

SDAVE

macrumors 68040
Jun 16, 2007
3,578
601
Nowhere
Any USB 3.0 PCIe cards that support external USB powered hard drives?

I have one with an internal power connector which I connected to the DVD SATA port but it seems like it's not enough for a portable 2TB WD drive so I just use external USB 3.0 drives that have external power bricks.
 
ActionableMango

ActionableMango

macrumors G3
Sep 21, 2010
9,613
6,909
SDAVE said:
Any USB 3.0 PCIe cards that support external USB powered hard drives?

I have one with an internal power connector which I connected to the DVD SATA port but it seems like it's not enough for a portable 2TB WD drive so I just use external USB 3.0 drives that have external power bricks.
Click to expand...

Yes. "Sonnet Allegro USB 3.0 4-Port" card is specifically designed to provide 2A per port for bus-powered drives.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1501482/
 
FireWire2

FireWire2

macrumors 6502
Oct 12, 2008
363
6
Last edited:
J

jelockwood

macrumors member
Mar 5, 2015
40
16
Ha, I recently got a second-hand classic Mac Pro 5,1 and have been upgrading it bit by bit† and was planning on adding a 'mere' USB3 card when I came across this thread.

I think I will hold off now and go straight to USB3.1 :cool:

I am not sure if I will wait for a 4-port card but I definitely will want a card which does not need an additional power cable. (I had been leaning towards the Sonnet USB3-4PM-E before I came across this thread and the fact USB 3.1 cards are already available and working.)

I have seen the Asus and Asrock cards listed, and also the Sunix. I have however just come across another couple I have not so far seen listed here so I thought I would add this information for everyone's benefit.

The first seems to be made by IVSO.

See http://www.amazon.co.uk/computers/dp/B00X545H8I

Despite the fact it clearly has a power socket on the card the text says this is no longer needed for 'normal' operation.

For a change it seems much cheaper in the UK than the US.

The second seems to be made by SEDNA.

See http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00WRAFGX2 and this one does seem to still need a power cable.

As mentioned I will wait a while both to see what 4-port cards come out and for the dust to settle and a better picture regarding speed, compatibility, power, etc. issues to be determined but at the moment I would lean towards the Asrock A+C card. One could run an external powered USB3 or 3.1 hub off the A port.

†So far I have upgraded the CPUs from 2x4 core 2.26GHz to 2x6 core 3.06GHz, replaced the original WiFi/Bluetooth cards with 802.11ac and Bluetooth LE with full Yosemite Continuity compatibility and internal antenna, added SATAIII support for the internal drive bays, and upgraded the video card.
 
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